Sean Payton, 58, has been in charge of the Saints for 15 season and guided them to success in Super Bowl XLIV; New Orleans compiled a 152-89 record across 15 regular seasons plus a 9-8 mark in the play-offs during his tenure
Tuesday 25 January 2022 22:23, UK
Super Bowl-winning head coach Sean Payton is stepping down as New Orleans Saints boss after 15 seasons in charge.
The 58-year-old still has three years remaining on his current contract, but his departure was confirmed at a news conference on Tuesday.
"We coach, we coach, we coach, and at some point they tell you to leave," Payton said. "As difficult as being fired is, it sure seems easier to thank everyone and move on your merry way.
"I still have a vision for doing things in football and I'll be honest with you, that might be coaching again at some point. I don't think it's this year, I think maybe in the future. That's not where my heart is right now."
Payton was hired as Saints head coach following a 3-13 season in 2005 and in total he compiled a 152-89 record across 15 regular seasons plus a 9-8 mark in the play-offs.
That included guiding New Orleans to Super Bowl glory in 2009, although Payton was suspended for the 2012 season over his role in the "Bountygate" scandal too.
As difficult as being fired is, it sure seems easier to thank everyone and move on your merry way.
He was named NFL Coach of the Year in 2006 after engineering a turnaround which saw the team finish with a 10-6 mark and advance to the NFC Championship game.
Payton spent all but the 2021 season with record-setting quarterback Drew Brees by his side, and together, they took the team to the play-offs nine times. The duo brought a new energy to the franchise and to a city which was recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
In 2021, the Saints finished 9-8 and out of the postseason. With Brees retired, the Saints used a quarterback rotation of Jameis Winston, Trevor Siemian, Taysom Hill and rookie Ian Book, necessitated by both injuries and Covid-19 protocol.
The Saints' vacancy makes it the ninth opening for head coach in the NFL and Saints owner Gayle Benson hailed the impact he has made during his time in charge of the team.
"On behalf of our entire organization, I have the highest appreciation for what Sean Payton has meant to the New Orleans Saints since 2006," Benson said in a statement.
"Under his leadership, Sean helped lead this football team to new heights with easily its most successful period, showing what can be accomplished with a combination of vision, hard work, leadership of his coaching staff and players.
"We are grateful for everything Sean has given to this organization and this city and I give my best wishes to he and his lovely wife Skylene in the future."
